SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 6572

As Passed Senate, March 16, 2010

Title: An act relating to eliminating accounts.

Brief Description: Eliminating certain accounts.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senator Tom; by request of Office of Financial Management).

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Ways & Means: 1/26/10, 2/02/10 [DPS].

Passed Senate: 3/10/10, 48-0.First Special Session: Passed Senate: 3/16/10, 41-0.

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6572 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Prentice, Chair; Fraser, Vice Chair, Capital Budget Chair; Tom, Vice Chair, Operating Budget; Zarelli, Ranking Minority Member; Brandland, Carrell, Fairley, Hewitt, Hobbs, Honeyford, Keiser, Kline, Kohl-Welles, McDermott, Oemig, Parlette, Pflug, Pridemore, Regala, Rockefeller and Schoesler.

Staff: Steve Jones (786-7440)

Background: In addition to the state General Fund, which may be expended for any lawful purpose, the state maintains several hundred funds and accounts that are dedicated to a particular statutory purpose. These accounts generally fall into one of three categories: (1) accounts located in the state treasury, thereby subject to appropriation by the Legislature; (2) accounts held in the custody of the State Treasurer and typically not subject to legislative appropriation; and (3) accounts located in state agencies and institutions of higher education, known as local accounts. Some funds and accounts, due to lack of recent activity, have been deemed by the Office of Financial Management to be inactive accounts.

Summary of Substitute Bill: The following inactive funds and accounts are abolished:

• City and County Advance Right-of-Way Revolving Account;

• Community and Technical College Fund for Innovation and Quality Account;

• Dairy Products Commission Facility Account;

• Data Processing Building Construction Account;

• Education Technology Account;

• Energy Efficiency Construction Account;

• Fruit Commission Facility Account;

• K-20 Technology Account;

• Morrill Account;

• Personal Health Services Account;

• Prescription Drug Purchasing Account;

• Special Purpose District Research Services Account;

• Two-Year Student Child Care in Higher Education Account;

• Warren G. Magnuson Institute Trust Account;

• Washington Fruit Express Account; and

• Washington Service Corps Scholarship Account.

Any residual balance remaining in these funds is transferred to the state General Fund. In addition, the remaining balance in the School Construction Revolving Fund, created in 1990 by an uncodified section of the state budget act, and the Employment and Training Act repealed in 1993, is also transferred to the state General Fund.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect on July 1, 2010.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Original Bill: PRO: The elimination of these inactive state funds and accounts will simplify the state accounting process and save costs because the accounts will no longer need to be monitored.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Roselyn Marcus, Office of Financial Management.